Brentford Library

Brentford Library

Brentford Library is a Grade II listed building at Boston Manor Road, Brentford, London.[1]

It was built in 1903 by Joseph Dorey and Co; for the then Brentford District Council.[1] The benefactor was Andrew Carnegie and the architect was Nowell Parr.[1] The foundation stone was laid by the Countess of Jersey, who lived not far away at Osterley Park.[2]

The building is constructed from yellow stock brick laid in English bond and dressed with terracotta.[1] The roof uses Welsh slate.[1] It was designated a listed building on 2 October 1990.[1]

On the floor of the entrance hall is a mosaic displaying the coat of arms of Middlesex (in the original form, identical to that of Essex, without the Saxon crown). Also in the entrance hall, on the staircase leading up, is a marble memorial by Nowell Parr dedicated to the local men who died in the Second Boer War.[3]

It closed in November 2016 due to plaster falling from the roof in the children's area.[4] Structural engineering surveys show that all three ceilings need repair, and as of end December 2016, Hounslow Council hope to re-open it "very early in the New Year".[5] It partially reopened in January 2017, and in full in April.[6]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Historic England. "Brentford Public Library (1334382)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Brentford Library - A History". Brentford Local History. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Boer War Memorial". Flickr. May 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Brentford Library closed". hounslow.gov.uk. 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Brentford Library Closed Until After the New Year". brentfordtw8.com. 28 December 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  6. ^ Patel, Salina (16 April 2017). "Brentford library fully re-opens five months after ceiling collapse in the children's area forced closure". My London. Retrieved 26 December 2018.